Which of the following are characteristics of pericarditis?

Acute pericarditis typically presents with acute onset severe, sharp retrosternal chest pain, often radiating to the neck, shoulders, or back. Positional changes are characteristic with worsening of the pain in the supine position and with inspiration; and improvement with sitting upright and leaning forward.

What are two classic findings of pericarditis?

Although no criteria for the diagnosis of acute pericarditis have been established, prior studies6–8 have suggested that at least 2 of the following 4 criteria should be present: (1) characteristic chest pain, (2) pericardial friction rub, (3) suggestive electrocardiographic (ECG) changes, and (4) new or worsening …

How do you confirm pericarditis?

Other tests used to diagnose pericarditis may include:
  1. Electrocardiogram (ECG). An electrocardiogram is a quick and painless test that records the electrical signals in the heart. …
  2. Chest X-ray. …
  3. Echocardiogram. …
  4. Cardiac computerized tomography (CT) scan. …
  5. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

What are the ECG hallmarks of pericarditis?

Stage 1 accompanies the onset of acute pain and is the hallmark of acute pericarditis. ECG changes include diffuse concave upward ST elevation, except in leads aVR and V1 (usually depressed). T waves are upright in the leads with ST elevation, and the PR segment deviates opposite to P-wave polarity.

What is the most common cause of pericarditis?

Pericarditis, or inflammation of the pericardium, is most often caused by viral infection. It can also develop as a result of bacterial or other infection, autoimmune disease, renal failure, injury to the mediastinal area, and the effects of certain drugs (notably hydralazine and procainamide).

What is Beck’s triad?

The triad was originally described in 1935 by the American cardiothoracic surgeon Claude Beck and includes the presence of low blood pressure, distension of the jugular veins, and muffled or diminished heart sounds on cardiac auscultation.

What is pericarditis What is the characteristic finding when you are examining a patient with pericarditis?

Characteristic clinical findings in pericarditis include pleuritic chest pain and pericardial friction rub on auscultation of the left lower sternal border. Electrocardiography may reveal diffuse PR-segment depressions and diffuse ST-segment elevations with upward concavity.

Which of the following is the most important physical finding when diagnosing acute pericarditis?

Signs and symptoms

Chest pain is the cardinal symptom of pericarditis, usually precordial or retrosternal with referral to the trapezius ridge, neck, left shoulder, or arm.

What are the pathological events of pericarditis?

The most apparent pathological features of constrictive pericarditis are inflammation and fibrotic thickening of the thin and elastic parietal and visceral pericardial linings. The pericardium commonly bears areas of inflammation of the serosa, scarring, and fibro-calcification[63].

What is Beck’s triad symptoms?

A hallmark sign of cardiac tamponade is a trio of symptoms known as Beck’s triad: Low blood pressure (hypotension). Bulging neck veins. Heartbeat sounds that are distant or muffled when listening through a stethoscope.

When should you suspect pericarditis?

Acute pericarditis, the most common pericardial syndrome in clinical practice, is diagnosed based on two of the following criteria: a) chest pain b) pericardial friction-rub c) characteristic ECG changes (new widespread ST-elevation or PR depression) d) pericardial effusion.

What are the signs and symptoms of acute pericarditis?

Other signs and symptoms of pericarditis may include:
  • Cough.
  • Fatigue or general feeling of weakness or being sick.
  • Leg swelling.
  • Low-grade fever.
  • Pounding or racing heartbeat (heart palpitations)
  • Shortness of breath when lying down.
  • Swelling of the belly (abdomen)

How can you tell the difference between myocarditis and pericarditis?

The main difference between pericarditis, myocarditis, and endocarditis is the layer affected. Pericarditis is inflammation in the pericardium, myocarditis inflames the myocardium, and endocarditis means inflammation in the endocardium.

Can Covid trigger pericarditis?

COVID-19 may present with pericarditis without myocarditis or respiratory symptoms. This atypical presentation should be recognised for early isolation and limitation of the spread of the disease. Aspirin with colchicine is effective in the treatment of COVID-19 pericarditis.

What can mimic pericarditis?

In addition to these conditions, chest pain that can mimic pericarditis is seen in a wide range of conditions including gastric inflammation (gastritis) or ulcers, esophageal inflammation (esophagitis) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), clots in the arteries of the lung (pulmonary embolism), inflammation of …